Foot accelerator for automobile engines



Dec. 18' H. V. SOUDERS ET AL FOOT ACCELERATOR FOR AUTOMOBILE ENGINES Filed Sept. 22. 1921 INVENTOR.

A TTORNE Y.

Patented Dec. 18, 1923.

Uhllllhfi STATE ?ATENT @FHQE.

HERBERT V. SOUDEIRS, 01'! WILMINGTON, AND JESSE M. FROST, OF LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA.

FOOT ACCELERATOR FOR AUTOMOBILE ENGINES.

Application filed September 22, 1921.

To (ZZZ whom it may concern Be it known that we, Hnnnnn'r V. Soonnns and Jnssn M. Fnos r, citizens of the United States, residing at Vilmington and Long Beach, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful improvements in Foot Accelera tors for Automobile Engines, of which the following is a specification.

Our invent-ion relates to a pedally operated accelerator for the internal combustion engines of motor vehicles, the principal objects of our invention being to generally improve upon and simplify the construction of the existing types of pedally operated accelerators and to provide a device in the nature of a foot rest and which is adapted tobe swung laterally'a short distance when movement is to be imparted to theaccelerator with whichthe device is associated.

Further objects of our invention are to provide a pedally operated accelerator actuating device that is capable'of being easily and cheaply produced and which afl'ords simple and convenient means for positively actuating the connections that lead to the accelerator. i

W'ith the foregoing and other objects in view our invention consists in certain novel features and arrangement of parts that will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1. is a top plan view of a pedally actuated accelerator operating device of our improved construction.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

The device contemplated by our invention includes a base plate that is positioned on the inclined floor boards 11 of a motor vehicle and at a point convenient to the vehicle operators foot, said plate being secured to the floor board in any suitable man ner.

Formed integral with the forward end of plate 10 is a vertically disposed bearing 12 in which is arranged for rotary movement a shaft 13 carrying at'its upper end a pinion 14. The lower end of this shaft carries a crank arm 15 that is connected to a rod (not shown) and which extends forwardly to the throttle of the carburetor. Formed Serial No. 502,326.

integral with the forward portion of plate 10 is an upwardly projecting arcuate plate 16 and projecting rearwardly from the upper edge thereof is a flange 17.

Pivotally mounted upon a screw 18 that projects through the rear portion'of plate 10 and which is seated in the floor board is the lower rear end of a foot plate 19 that is provided in the lower portion of its upper surface with a recess 20 that is adapted to receive the heel of a mans shoe and extending downwardly from the central portion of said recess 20 is a smaller recess 21 that is adapted to receive the lower portion of the heel of the ladys shoe.

Formed on the right hand side of the plate 19 and adjacent to the forward end thereof is an upwardly projecting flange 22 that is adapted to be engaged by the side of the sole of a shoe when the foot plate is swung laterally upon its pivot. Formed on the underside of the front portion of foot plate 19 is an arcuate rib 23, the front face of which, is provided with rack teeth 2 1 that engage the teeth of pinion 14:.

The arcuate plate 16 and flange 17 and the arcuate rib 23 are concentric with the axis of plate 19 and which axis is formed by the screw 18. Depending from the underside of plate 19 is an L-shaped lug 25, the lower portion of which engages beneath flange 17 on the upper edge of plate 16 thus forming a bearing to retain the plate 19 in proper posit-ion when it is shifted laterally and to limit the lateral swinging movement of the plate 19 lugs 26 project downwardly from the ends of flange 17 and which lugs serve as stops against which the lug engages at the ends of the lateral movement of plate 19.

In the operation of our improved foot accelerator, the drivers foot is positioned directly on top of plate 19 and when it is de sired to actuate the accelerator, said plate is swung laterally upon its axis (screw 18) and as a result of such laterally swinging movement, the rack teeth 24 on arcuate rib 23 engages the teeth of pinion 14.- thereby imparting rotary movement to said pinion and to the shaft 13 with the result that crank arm 15 will be swung laterally and the throttle of the carburetor will be opened and consequently accelerating the speed of the engine.

131 "011115 g ih? 9. 1 plate 19 laterally.

the upper portion of the foot is pressed against flange 22 and when the pressure against said flange is relieved, the plate is returned to its normal position by the usual retractile spring that is associated with the throttle actuating rod.

The recess provides a convenient pocket for the heel of a mans shoe and the smaller pocket 21 provides a pocket for the reception of the lower portion of the heel of a ladys shoe.

A pedally actuated accelerator operating device of our improved construction is comparatively simple, may be easily and cheaply produced. and is very effective in performing its intended functions,

Various changes may be made in the details of construction by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of our invention as-set forth in the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. A pedally operated accelerator actuating device comprising a foot plate pivoted for lateral swinging movement, an arcuate rackformed on the forward portion of said plate, a journaledshaft, a pinion fixed on said shaft and engaging-with the teeth of said arcuate rack, and connections from said journaled shaft to the throttle of a carburetor.

2." A device of the class described, comprising a base plate, a foot plate pivotally mounted on said base plate for laterally swinging movement, a shaft journaled in a bearing in the base plate, a pinion fixed on said shaft, an arcuate rackcarried by th foot plate and engaging the rack of said pinion and means for limiting the lateral swinging movement of said foot plate.

3. A device of the class described, com

prising a base plate, a foot plate pivotally mounted on said base plate for laterally swinging movement, a shaft journaled in a bearing in the base plate, pinion fixed on said shaft, an arcuate rack carried by the foot plate and engaging the rack of said pinion and-a heel receiving recess formed in the rear portion of said foot plate.

41-. A device of the class described, comprising a base plate, a foot plate pivotally mounted on said base plate for laterally swinging movement, a shaft journaled in a bearing in the base plate, a pinion fixed on said shaft, an arcuate' rack carried by the foot plate and engaging the rack of said pinion and means for limiting the lateral swinging movement of said foot plate.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with a rotatively' mounted shaft and a pinion carried thereby of a :foot

plate pivoted at its rear end so that its forward portion'ma'y swing laterally above the shaft and pinion and an arcuate rack on the underside of the forward portion of said foot plate, the teeth of which rack engage the teeth of said pinion.

' .6. A device of the character described comprising a base plate, a foot plate mounted on the base plate for lateral swinging movement, a shaft, a pinion fixed to said shaft,

a rack carried by the foot plate engaging said pinion, a projection on the (base plate, a flange on the projection, a lip on the foot plate slidably engaging the projection, and lugs on the flange for limiting the sliding movement of the lip. V 7

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification.

; HERBERT v. SOUDERS.

JESSE M. FROST. 

